Life-raft.



0. E. JONES.

LIFE RAFT.

APPLICATION mm 0U. 14. 1914.

1,152,095. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

WWI mom WW OLIVER E. JONES, 0F TRINITY VALLEY,'IBRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

LIFE-RAFT. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed October 14, 1914. Serial No. 866,693.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, OLIVER E. JONES, subject of the King of England, residing, at Trinity Valley, in the Province of British Columbia, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Rafts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a life raft. 7

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be practically unsinkable and on which the passenger supporting platform will be mounted in such a way as to be always maintained in a horizontal position irrespective of the position of the supporting pontoons. y

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel mounting for the supporting platform on the aforementioned pontoons.v

lVith these and other objects in view, such as will appear as the description progresses,

my invention comprises the combination and arrangement of parts as herein set forth and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation ofmy -device.- -Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of one of the pontoons. Fig. l is a section on line l i of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is asection on line 5--5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail. I

Referring to the drawing wherein like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the several views: my device comprises a plurality of parallel pontoons 1 held in spaced relation by a plurality of frames 2, the said frames being of rectangular formation. Each of the pontoons consists of an inner tube 3 made of steel or the like and covered with cork 1. This inner tube is inclosed in an outer steel tube 5 of cylindrical formation substantially throughout its length, but turned at the end, as indicated at 6, the ends of the said pontoons being turned inwardly toward each other so that when the device is supported by the lower pontoon the upper pontoon points downwardly toward the water so that when the device is so turned that the upper pontoon rests on the water the end thereof will turn upwardly as will be readily understood. In theouter casing 5 is formed a plurality of spaced grooves 7 in which are mounted loops 8 on the frame 2 so that there may be no relative movement between the said frames and the pontoons 1. a

Secured within each of the frames 2 and arranged ina vertical plane is a ring 9 of .U-shape in cross section and having aplurality of notches 10 in the inner edges thereof .in which are revolubly mounted axles 11 on which axles are securedrollers 12, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

A second ring 13 of U-shape formation in cross section fits within the legs of the first mentioned rings and the periphery thereof rests on the rollers 12 so that the second mentioned ring, which I will term the inner ring, may have movement with relation to 'the'first mentioned or outer rings and the movement will be greatlyfacilitated because of the'fact that the inner ring bears uponthe rollers 12 in the'outer rings.

In'order that the rollers 12 may be prevented from lateral movement, I haveprovided washersld which are secured to the outerfaces ofthe outer ring 9-between the notches 10 by. rivets 15 and which bear against the ends of the axles 11. In this inner ring 13 is formed a plurality of notches 16. Supporting beams16 are mounted in the notchesjand extend from the ring in oneframe to the'ring in the other and so on throughout the length of the device. These beams 16 extend outwardly a considerable distance beyond the endmost frames 2 and a platform 18 is secured to the beams and extends throughout the length of the same on which platform seats may be located.

The object of extending the platform be-- yond the endmost frames 2 is so that it may be occupied by oarsman to propel the raft.

Secured to each side of the platform between the frames 2 and hanging therefrom to a position adjacent the water are rope ladders 20.

In operation when the raft is resting upon two of the pontoons 1 and the platform 18 is supporting weight and is in a horizontal position and because of the roughness of the sea the device is so rolled that the pon toons which rest upon the water are thrown from the water and the device revolved so as to bring two of the other pontoons in the water, the platform 18 maintains its horiative motion of the platform and the supporting pontoons may be readily had.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that I have provided a life raft Which Will be practically nonsinkable and which will be so constructed that the supporting platform will always be maintained in a horizontal position irrespective of the position of the supporting pontoons. I have secured tothe pontoons a vertically extending ring in which is mounted a second ring adapted to have motion with relation to said first mentioned ring and on which second ring the beams on Which the supporting platform is mounted.

While I have ill strated and describeda particular embodiment of my invention, it

has merely been for the sakeof illustration and I Wishit to be understood that I do not ant to be limited to that particular embodiment for it is obvious that numerous changes'may be made Within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

, What is claimed is f I Ina device of the class described, a plurality of elongated pontoons, rectangular frames connected to and supporting the same in spaced relation, a ring secured to each ofsaid frames and extending in a vertical plane,rings slidably mounted on the first mentioned rings, a platform secured to thelastmentioned rings, and means to faci litate the movement between the first mentioned and lastmentioned rings.

12.;In adeviceof he class described, a plurality of parallel .pontoons, rectangular frames attached to said pontoo'ns in spaced ear-a iii thi's iiaiiitihayte ates-red for five dents ends, a plurality of frames secured to said Y pontoons and extending in a vertical plane, rings of U-shap'e in cross section secured in said frames, notches in the sides of'the said rings, axles revolubly mounted in said notches and having "rollers thereon between the sides of the rings, additional rings mounted on the said rollers and Within the sides of the first mentioned rings, and beams secured to the last mentioned rings and extending from one to the other.

, 4 In a device of the class described, a plurality of po'n'toons, and frames secured to the same and adapted to hold them in spaced relation, said pontoons consisting of inner steel chambers, a cork covering for said chambers, and an outer cylindrical chamber of steel having upturned ends.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature, inthe presence of two Witnesses. I

' OLIVER E. JONES.

Witnesses: ELMER CHRI's'inNsoN,

C. R. MILLER.

ela chfby addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 1)."0'. 

